Sunday, January 31, 2010

Dell rats are coming out of the woodwork! I am delighted to read your feedback and your stories and to get to know some of you as friends.

Your input is not only welcome, it is very important because it helps us to expand our knowledge of the Dell, the Ettlines, and related topics of interest. I would like to take this opportunity to share with all of our readers some of the wonderful comments and anecdotes that I have received.

In response to my January 16th post honoring the memory of John Ettline...

TheLubeFaerie, a wife, mother and fellow blogger who lives in South Central PA shared some fond memories of John.

"Brought a tear to my eye," she wrote. "John was a person I could never forget. He helped me do a school project one year about WWII and he sat and talked to me for hours about it. He and I would talk for hours anytime. Such a great man. Once he gave me money to go with everyone else to the fair. What an awesome human he was~"

Thank you, Lubie! Many of us have similar stories about John's generous nature - a generosity that went far beyond financial aid. John offered shelter and protection. He was generous with his time. He imparted wisdom and advice without lecturing, preaching or pontificating. He listened to us. John was willing to give every kid a second chance. He made every one of us feel important. Thanks again for your comment. It is greatly appreciated! I urge everybody to check out TheLubeFaerie's blog Karma Payment Plan by clicking here.

Long time Dell goer Adrienne (aka A.J.) says she dreams of owning the Dell jukebox someday. Like countless other Dell rats A.J. also fantasizes about buying the Dell itself and reopening it as an eatery and dance hall for teenagers.

"I would love to own (the Shady Dell) and open it for kids to keep John's legend alive," A.J. wrote. "I went there for many years. I loved John dearly. I would sit and talk to him for hours. He was like the grandfather I never had. I went to his funeral and we were allowed to go up there for one last night and that was one of the saddest nights I can recall to know that a very important piece of my teenage years was gone forever."

Thank you, A.J. Many of us feel exactly the same as you do about the Dell and the incomparable Mr. John Ettline!

Dell Rat Ron, who started going to the Dell in 1963 at age 14, offered some feedback about the John Ettline post.

"Your bio and tribute to John was very moving and well done," Ron wrote. "I like the way you researched him, and the song 'My Way' has always been a favorite of mine. Very appropriate. I also liked your praise of Helen on the previous blog."

Ron also presented a plausible theory about the timing of John's death. "You know, I don't think it coincidental that (John) passed away roughly a week after one of (Helen's) birthdays. I think it was another special day out of the year that he couldn't stand celebrating by spending time without her, and he just wanted to join her, and pined away his last."

Thanks, Ron! I never put two and two together in that fashion but your explanation certainly has merit. Perhaps I can also speak to that. My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 less than a month after Helen died. I was living in Lancaster at the time and never even got word that she had passed away.

When I walked in and found John by himself in the snack bar and asked "where's Helen?" I was met with an awkward silence and noticed that John suddenly had a wistful, far away look in his eyes. I was stunned when he informed me of Helen's death. It's well documented that the loss of a spouse takes a very heavy toll as do yearly reminders of the loss like birthdays, wedding anniversaries and death dates. John died one week after Helen's birthday and less than six weeks before the anniversary of her death. He had just spent another Christmas and New Year's without her and Valentine's Day was only four weeks away. All of those painful reminders might have been weighing on John and contributed at least in part to his demise. It amazes me to know that a man John's age was able to keep the Dell operating by himself for seven-and-a-half years after Helen died, enduring harsh winters and dealing with rowdy guests! That, my friends, is a profile in courage!

"Keep up the good work on your blog," Ron wrote. "John and Helen were special people. They had a lot of love, for themselves, each other, and countless of us. You really do a fine job paying homage to the Ettlines and the people they helped to grow up, as well as helping us to look back and see where we've come from and what's a part of us."

Thank you very much for your comments, Ron!

Finally, here's the clean-up hitter...our old friend Dell Rat Jerre. Jerre is a 1961 graduate of York High who started going to the Dell in 1959 and was a Dell regular from 1961 to 1965. Jerre told me he's enjoying my countdown of The 10 Most Exciting Records...Ever!

"Just wanted to let you know that as usual, I really enjoy your Perfect Storm series. You have already listed several of my all time favorites.

'I Love You' - Volumes (Very big at Haar's Roller Rink)'Need Your Lovin'' - Don and Dee Dee (I can't believe you had this one. I dug out my old 45 just to listen to the scratches.)'Village Of Love' - Nathaniel Mayer (I recall this as a big hit at Zimmy's swim club)"

Aaaaaah yes, Zimmy's pool, located between Spry and Dallastown! I went there for years, Jerre. Around age eleven I suddenly outgrew my goggles, fins, snorkel, ear plugs, nose plugs...and Dimples the Dragon, my inflatable plastic pool toy.

(Dimples was my very bestest friend in the whole wide world and I just loved to hug him and squeeze him for hours and hours and hours!!!) Wait a minute-No!...my mistake! That Dimples thing happened later on.....at age 35. Anyway, I went from cowboys to girls. I gave up the trappings of youth and started spending most of my time at Zimmy's watching bikini clad lovelies jitterbug to juke tunes on that canopy covered dance floor. On more than one occasion I completely forgot to go swimming!

Jerre also kindly shares with us a few of his memories of John, Helen, and the Dell.

“Before 1961 I was at York High with no car and only allowed out on weekends and yes my parents were originally very anti-Dell. I only got to the Dell with older friends that had a car and then only before my 11:00 curfew. After many discussions, eventually my parents started to believe me when I told them that John and Helen were good people and tried to keep out trouble makers. After 1961 many very late nights (actually very early mornings) were spent at the Dell.”

I asked Jerre to describe how the kids dressed at the Dell in the late 50s and early 60s. According to Jerre, the list of clothing essentials for the well dressed Dell rat started with a genuine Baracuta jacket from Lehmeyer's.

“I had at least 5 over the years,” Jerre recalled. “Tan, Blue, and the longer style."

"Khaki pants with the penny loafers and no socks was in," Jerre remembers. "Shorts were not as popular for the guys as they are now. Another must item for the winter to replace the Barracuta was a jacket that could only be purchased at the Army Navy store across the corner from the Hub on George St. I believe it was Navy surplus. The jacket was an olive green canvas type with fuzzy collar. They were extremely 'in' with the guys. It was also 'cool' to wear V neck sweaters without a shirt under it. As I recall blue jeans were not the fashion statement at that time.”

I asked Jerre to address the subject of the Dell’s perennial bad reputation. “Most of the regulars, people that John would wave in free from his booth, were not trouble makers and were just looking for a place to hang out with their friends and meet girls or guys,” Jerre explained.

“Yes fights happened, but mostly in the parking lot along with the drinking. I actually think there was more drinking done in the parking lot in my early years and the police patrols sort of ended that. It was not a rarity for the police to cruise the parking lot. I often felt bad for John as I felt he did the best he could to keep it a clean safe place for the kids. I would like to think that the majority of the trouble was caused by the outsiders and not the regulars. Most of the people just wanted a place to go and be with other people, especially after other places were closed."

"When White Oaks was open," wrote Jerre, "everyone started the evening at the Oaks and those without a curfew ended the night at the Dell after the Oaks closed. It was always the place to go late in the evening after other activities.”

Jerre, as always we thank you very much for sharing your recollections of the people, the places, and the times of your life!

My friends, I sincerely thank each and every one of you for your comments. You are all valued members of the Rat Patrol! By contributing to the dialogue here on Shady Dell Music & Memories you are helping to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle. You are helping to keep memories of John, Helen and the Dell alive and we are all having loads of fun reminiscing. Thank you once again for your participation!

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Now let's finish our countdown of the most exciting records from the pre-Beatles era, the mid-50s through 1963:

5. “A Fool in Love” – Ike & Tina Turner (September 1960)

No legitimate Most Exciting list would be complete without something by Tina Turner. You would be hard pressed to find any Ike & Tina records that were not exciting. Like many of the artists featured in this survey, Tina Turner's electrifying live performances are what launch her songs into the stratosphere. Here's Tina, Ike and the Ikettes on the Big T.N.T. Show singing "A Fool in Love" and "It's Gonna Work Out Fine."

4. “Reet Petite” – Jackie Wilson (August 1957)

Bright and brassy, the Berry Gordy penned "Reet Petite" (the finest girl you ever wanna meet) stands as one of Jackie Wilson's most durable recordings. It was Jackie's first single on Brunswick as a solo artist after leading and then leaving Billy Ward's Dominoes. "Reet Petite" still sounds fresh today. I simply never get tired of hearing it!

3. “Jailhouse Rock” – Elvis Presley (October 1957)

Jailhouse Rock was one of Elvis Presley's better motion pictures and the title song was used in one of the most entertaining and memorable production numbers in movie musical history!

Jailhouse Rock is dripping with legend and lore. Elvis reportedly refused to watch the movie because he was devastated over the tragic death of his beautiful co-star Judy Tyler. Judy was killed in a car crash just three days after filming was completed.

Presenting three of the best early recordings laid down by the Titan of Soul when he was singing lead with Billy Ward & His Dominoes. "You Can't Keep a Good Man Down" went to #8 on the R&B chart in the fall of 1953.

"Give Me You" was recorded in January of 1955. A March 1954 studio session gave birth to the "St. Louis Blues." This stuff still sounds fresh and vital today!

"St. Louis Blues" is my favorite of the three because of its syncopated rhythm and wicked sax break. Listen to Jackie Wilson's youthful exuberance on these recordings. It's no wonder they called him Mr. Excitement!

1. "Village of Love" - Nathaniel Mayer & the Twilights(May 1962)

Solid proof that the so-called other Motown yielded some of the finest R&B/Soul ever made, here's Detroit native Nathaniel Mayer & the Twilights with their barn burner "Village of Love." It's too cool for old school!

"Village of Love" is way off the chart - the most exciting record of the pre-Beatles era!

Golly gee, we're just getting started! Join me next time when my search for the 10 Most Exciting Records...Ever moves into the post-Beatles period. See ya!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Welcome back! As you recall I'm conducting a spinoff in my search for The 10 Most Exciting Records...Ever!

In Part 2, let's pick up where we left off with more of the most exciting songs of the 50s and pre-Beatles 60s:

10. “Twist and Shout” - Isley Brothers (June 1962)

Look up the word "longevity" in your Funk & Wagnalls and beside it you'll find a picture of the brothers Isley. The Isleys boasted a recording and performing career that spanned six decades. Major contributors to the mid-60s Shady Dell soundtrack, the Isleys capitalized on the Twist craze by releasing the hi-energy dancer "Twist and Shout." Although the Beatles gave the world an exciting cover, I'm going with the Isleys' version of "Twist and Shout" as one of the most exciting records ever made!

9. "Lost Someone" - James Brown & the Famous Flames (Recorded live at the Apollo in October 1962)

"Exciting?"...a ballad? When it's James Brown at the Apollo, you bet! Some-bot-tay scream!

8. "Sixty Minute Man" - Billy Ward & His Dominoes

The underrated Clyde McPhatter was fronting Billy Ward & His Dominoes when "Sixty Minute Man" became their signature song. Although it is Bill Brown's bass that is heard on lead, Clyde McPhatter's tenor pierces through the harmony mix with electrifying results. Listen now to the granddaddy of dirty 50s R&B songs "Sixty Minute Man!"

7. “Baby Workout” – Jackie Wilson (February 1963)

By 1963 Jackie Wilson's career was slipping. Well meaning handlers seemed determined to transform the dynamic and soulful Jackie into a tired Vegas lounge act. Jackie was drifting away from his roots, wasting his talents on syrupy, heavily orchestrated pop. Many of his recordings were over produced - contaminated with horns and strings - their quality further diminished by a superfluous and oft times annoying female chorus. Jackie's own vocals were frequently overwrought. Fans yearning for Jackie's fuel injected R&B had to settle for a night at the opera.

Yo! Word up, mister record executive: If I want easy listening I'll play one of my great grandpappy's Ray Coniff albums or just go hop in an elevator! You're turning the Titan of Soul into a fugitive from Lawrence Welk! What you're doin'...don't do dat!

With the incendiary "Baby Workout," Jackie Wilson temporarily redeemed himself and silenced the critics. Even with the obligatory chorus chiming in, Jackie cuts through the clutter and turns in a shouting R&B vocal performance reminiscent of his glory years with the Dominoes.

6. “Hound Dog” – Elvis Presley (August 1956)

Even at age six it was easy for me to choose the raw, intense earthiness of Elvis over the clean cut, safe, nonthreatening image of Pat Boone. Boone, the young pop singer who garnered the parental seal of approval by publicizing his deep religious beliefs, recorded a string of sanitized covers of black r&b for consumption by middle class whites. Several of Boone's whitewashed ditties became hits, eclipsing the chart performances of the black artists' originals. However, the tables were turning on artists like Pat Boone and companies that promoted them. The times, they were a changing. It wouldn't be long before parental approval was considered the kiss of death in the record biz and was avoided like the plague!

The countdown of the most exciting pre-Beatles records continues in my next post. See ya soon!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

The task seemed simple enough at first. I wanted to present my list of the 10 Most Exciting Records Ever Made. I had every intention of limiting it to 10, but my list kept growing until it reached more than 50 with no end in sight.

To make the task less daunting I separated the songs into four music categories and ranked each song within that category. Next, I took the winners, the highest ranking songs in each category, and conducted a spinoff competition to determine the 10 Most Exciting Records...Ever!

As you might expect I limited the entries to songs released during the baby boom era of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Today, in Part 1 of my 13-Part series, I kick off the competition with a countdown of the most exciting records from the pre-Beatles years, the mid 50s through 1963.

Let the games begin, Jungle Lad!

15. “The Lonely Surfer” – Jack Nitzsche (August 1963)

This classic sun & surf instrumental starts out like a ripple on a pond and steadily builds in intensity until it is a towering 50-footer. "The Lonely Surfer" is a powerful metaphor for facing life's greatest challenges alone and conquering them!

14. “All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley (April 1957)

In the spring and summer of 1957, "All Shook Up" was on the radio, on record players, and on people’s lips. In America and abroad, the phrase “all shook up” became a commonly used slang expression for millions of young people. Songwriter Otis Blackwell allegedly invented the catch phrase when somebody shook up a bottle of coke and challenged him to write a song about it. “All Shook Up” reminds me of another pop culture phrase in ‘50s America, “crazy, mixed-up kid.” Most likely the expression came from one of the many movies that dealt with troubled teens and juvenile delinquents like those portrayed by actors Marlon Brando and James Dean. In the mid 60s, the girl group Patty & the Emblems seemingly combined the two phrases into one for their hit song, "Mixed-Up, Shook-Up, Girl."

13. “I Love You” – Volumes (May 1962)

There's a word for this song: EXCITING! In the spring of 1962, "I Love You" by the Volumes and "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler were the two hottest records on the jukebox in the lobby of Dallastown Area High School. While the boys played ping pong, the girls danced nearby in front of that record machine. Meanwhile, guys like me who were more interested in girls than in table tennis spent lunch break engaged in that welcome distraction known as girl watching. Can I get a witness?

12. “Don’t Be Cruel” – Elvis Presley (August 1956)

I was six when my older brother brought home the 2-sided blockbuster "Hound Dog"/"Don’t Be Cruel". From the start I was hooked on Elvis Presley and the new brand of music he performed called rock ‘n roll. Although only a child, I could tell that Elvis was the real deal. He was much more exciting to listen to and to watch than Bing Crosby and the other big band era crooners that my parents liked. I knew that something was happening here...something big!

11. I Need Your Loving – Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford(June 1962)

When it comes to gravel-voiced shouter Don Gardner, too much of a good thing is never enough. That's why my drug of choice is Don's full length, five-minute-plus version of "I Need Your Loving." Don's hit 1962 call-and-response duet with Dee Dee Ford is an R&B classic. The call-and-response song style is a favorite of mine. It has been successfully performed by Ike and Tina, Mickey and Sylvia, and Peaches and Herb to name a few. Those recordings are all great but this sizzler by Don & Dee Dee is the most exciting!

My countdown of the most exciting pre-Beatles recordings continues soon, so stick around!

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Can you imagine the strength and courage that it took for John, a man in his 80s, to go it alone...enduring the hardships of winter and keeping the Dell in operation even as the clientele became increasingly rough? How many of us could have stood up to that kind of challenge?

Things to know and remember about John:

* John never had any children of his own but he loved kids and believed in them.

*John was the oldest of eight children, four boys and four girls, and took on the responsibility of caring for his siblings.

* Shortly after marrying Helen in Texas John enlisted in the U.S. Army. Nearly 40 years of age, John was believed to be the oldest enlisted man in WWII. He was promised the cavalry but, as fate would have it, wound up in a communications unit. John’s unit referred to him as Pops. John attained the rank of sergeant, served in the European Theatre, and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. John was hit in the head with shrapnel and ordered to go home but he reportedly refused to leave his men.

* John was a card shark, a gambler, and a wheeler dealer – a larger-than-life type of person – a colorful, loveable, and memorable character.

* Am I my brother’s keeper? To that question, John Ettline boldly answered “Yes!” To John, a friend in need is a friend indeed was more than a familiar old proverb, it was a policy statement – they were the words that John lived by. John was known to give financial aid to friends who were down on their luck or owed money to unsavory individuals. Neighbor helping neighbor was the John Ettline philosophy. John and Helen opened their doors and opened their hearts to troubled youth, battered women and others who needed their support. John and Helen walked their talk.

* As a member of his family expressed it, "John was loved and respected by everyone he came in contact with...especially his family. He offered love, guidance and advice to anyone who would give him the respect and listen.”

Please take a moment and watch this videoas we honor the memory of Mr. John Ettline.

John, you were the King of all Dell Rats. If we have anything to say about it you and Helen will always be remembered!

Monday, January 11, 2010

One of my favorite various artists record albums of the 1960s was The Motown Sound, Vol. 6.

I bought the 16-track LP because it contained several of the Dell’s greatest hits:

“Don’t Mess with Bill"‘Going to a Go-Go”“My Baby”“Uptight”“This Old Heart of Mine”“Just a Little Misunderstanding”“Truly Yours”“Helpless”

I was also delighted to find three other excellent songs on the album that were unfamiliar. All three quickly became favorites. These three songs were so good that I wondered why I had never heard them before. When I acquired Joel Whitburn’s Record Research books a few years later and looked up the three songs I was surprised to see how poorly they had performed on the Billboard chart.

One of the gems that I discovered on the album was Tammi Terrell’s “I Can’t Believe You Love Me.” This fine solo effort by Tammi charted in January of 1966 and ran out of steam at #72.

Tammi Terrell bonus track:

Tammi tried again. In the late spring of 1966 she released another soul satisfying single, “Come on and See Me.”

"Come on and See Me" was right in the pocket, yet it also performed poorly on the chart, grinding to a halt at #80 around the 4th of July.

Another great song on The Motown Sound Vol. 6 was "As Long as There is L-O-V-E Love" written and produced by Smokey Robinson and sung by Jimmy Ruffin.

“As Long as There is L-O-V-E Love” turned up on the Billboard Bubbling Under chart on the first day of 1966.

The song bubbled for three weeks and only got to #120 before it fizzled out!

Jimmy Ruffin bonus track:

A major northern soul dance floor filler in the clubs of Great Britain, "He Who Picks a Rose" remained unreleased as a single.

With the same backing arrangement as "I Gotta Find a Way to Get You Back," Jimmy's "Rose" was a bloomin' hit just waiting to happen. Too bad it never hit the streets as a 45. "Gotta Find a Way," meanwhile, was a great slice of Motown recorded by the Temptations, by Tammi Terrell with the Dennis Edwards-led Tempts and by Tammi solo. Here's Tammi's version.

Like the Marvelettes, the Velvelettes were another Motown girl group eclipsed by the Supremes.

The best known Velvelettes record, “Needle in a Haystack,” was also included on my Motown Sound album. Of all the featured songs in this post, "Needle" was the most successful. It climbed the charts in October and November of 1964 and finished at #45. A superb soul song like this one should have gone top 10!

Now let's sample a couple of Velvelettes bonus tracks.

The Velvelettes were an attractive girl group with a wonderful sound and some great material. They should have been a star attraction. Instead, their releases became less and less successful. Case in point: “He Was Really Saying Something” from February 1965, a record that stalled at #64.

Another excellent recording by the Velvelettes was “These Things Will Keep Me Loving You.”

Yet another chart underachiever, "These Things" bubbled under in October of 1966 but never climbed above #102.

What happened? Was the seven word title "These Things Will Keep Me Loving You" too long and cumbersome to allow this fine song to catch on?

Not one of the above Motown masterpieces made it into the top 40. Most didn’t even come close. Why didn’t these songs become hits? Why didn’t these talented artists become superstars?

It is disheartening to realize how many gifted artists failed to achieve the success that they deserved because they weren’t promoted properly; and how many times record company execs ordered black music to be cleaned-up, prettied-up, sanitized and repackaged to make it more palatable to white audiences.

The weasels didn't think that white America could handle the truth! Listen up, mister businessman. When it comes to soul music I take mine black. Hold the vanilla. Give it to me straight. Give me some truth. Give me Linda Jones!

The Rodentia Intelligentsia

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"You had to be there!"

“Words and photographs could never do those dancers justice because you had to be there - in a club with great music, like minded people and loads of atmosphere.” David Meikle of Glasgow, Scotland wrote those words in an article remembering the Twisted Wheel, the legendary northern soul club in Manchester, England. Yet, Mr. Meikle could just as easily have been describing the scene at my favorite "in" spot of the 1960s, the Shady Dell in York (Pennsylvania, not England).

THE SHADY DELL

YORK, PENNSYLVANIA

The Shady Dell: Part of York County's Colorful History

What began as a home based restaurant and bakery in 1945 evolved over the next two decades into the hottest teen nightspot in York county complete with indoor and outdoor dance floors. It went beyond that. Shady Dell owner John Ettline and his wife Helen put out the welcome mat offering hospitality, comfort, support, and encouragement to generations of young people. During its impressive 45-year life span the Dell became a home away from home for countless area youth from a variety of backgrounds.

At the height of its popularity in the early and mid 60s the Dell, located on the southern outskirts of the White Rose city, was as widely known as North York’s White Oak Park ("the Oaks"), Harrisburg's Raven club or any other youth-oriented venue in central Pennsylvania. The Dell attracted crowds from all over the region. It brought together under one roof kids from middle class families and kids from working class families - city kids, suburban kids, small town kids and farm kids.

The diverse cast of characters that constituted the Shady Dell family was a potentially volatile mix. Each of us had to find a way to fit in and get along (or risk being voted off the island). In the end, in spite of our differences, most of us learned to dance together without stepping on each other’s toes.

Shady Dell regulars were nicknamed Dell rats and we had at least two things in common: a love of the music that played on the Dell’s jukebox and a genuine respect for John and Helen Ettline who graciously made their home our home.

GREATER THAN THE SUM OF ITS PARTS

The Dell was a unique, magical coming of age experience - a proving ground - a secluded hideaway where adolescents could develop social skills, learn to handle responsibility and test the waters of adulthood free from the hassles of ubiquitous adult micromanagement.

SHOCKING TRUE CONFESSION: I WAS A TEENAGE DELL RAT! by Shady Del Knight

I became a Dell rat in 1965 at the age of fifteen. Disparaging rumors about the place had been circulating for years. If you were to believe the gossip the Dell was a snake pit where bad boys and bad girls went to do bad things. Some people, including my mother, referred to the Dell as a “den of iniquity.” Intrigued by the horror stories, I was determined to get there and see for myself what all the fuss was about.

In preparation for my grand entrance, I subjected myself to weeks of rigorous training at a Shady Dell boot camp of my own devise. I grew my hair longer and took up the smoking habit. I practiced in front of a mirror until I was convinced that my stance, walk, and dancing style were all cool.

To complete my extreme makeover, I went shopping for my 'uniform' which consisted of a tapered shirt from the Hub, slacks by H.I.S. and two wardrobe essentials: a pair of blue Jack Purcell sneakers and the all-important Baracuta jacket "Made in England." Wearing my 'Cuta' made me feel so terribly, terribly British, you know. Spot on for us bird watchin' blokes, right gov'na?

'JACKS'

AN ABSOLUTE MUST...FOR DANCIN' ON DELL DUST!

THE CLASSIC NATURAL COLOUR BARACUTA

STRICTLY CONTINENTAL, MATE!

Moment of Truth: Boy Meets Dell

Too young to drive, I made my first Dell visit happen by bumming a ride one night with my college-age cousin and two of his buddies. Clearly, none of the above was thrilled to be babysitting.

As we drove past York Hospital on South George and headed toward Violet Hill, what began as giddy anticipation was turning to apprehension. Fear of the unknown started creeping into my brain. What if the rumors turned out to be true? Would I soon be sharing a needle with a gang of rowdy bikers?

At Violet Hill, we made a dogleg turn to the right and began to climb the narrow, winding, bumpy Starcross Road. By this time my breathing had become labored and I felt queasy. It was as if, on a foolish dare, I had agreed to spend the night with Vincent Price in his House on Haunted Hill. Was it too late to leap from the car and bolt?

"I See the Lights... I See the Party Lights..."

We rounded a bend and I caught my first glimpse of her a short distance up the road. Perched on the hillside was a three-story brick house. Down to the left stood a barn. The festive glow of colored lights rose skyward from an area behind the house. As I would soon learn, the atmospheric illumination originated from strings of lanterns hanging above a patio rigged with remote speakers for outdoor dancing.

As we banked to make our final approach I detected the percussive beat of uptempo music emanating from the barn. We turned left into a gravel parking lot overflowing with vehicles. Here, in all of her rustic splendor, stood the infamous Shady Dell, my destination for the evening and my obsession for years to come!

I Found My Thrill on Violet Hill

My heart was thumping as we climbed the steps that led to the entrance and approached the admission booth. Following my cousin’s lead, I slid a quarter through the window and looked up to see a balding, bespectacled old man grinning back at me. Old? John Ettline would have been 59 at the time. I'm older than that now. Yikes!

“Good evening, gentlemen!” John delivered his cheerful salutation in a booming baritone. Immediately, my anxiety vanished. John’s warm welcome made me feel right at home. It made me feel like I belonged. I didn’t get it at the time but later came to realize that John’s presupposition that we were "gentlemen" was a clever and tactful way of admonishing us to behave accordingly.

Toto, I've a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore!

From the moment I entered the compound I was hooked. The Shady Dell was a private playground for teenagers - a candy land - a fun factory - a safe haven where kids could congregate and blow off steam without having to worry about parents and teachers giving them the evil eye. Instantly I became intoxicated - not by alcohol - but by a sense of total freedom. The place gave off a vibe that was completely new to me – an exhilarating blend of romance, adventure and danger!

Instead of placing a ton of restrictions on their young patrons, John and Helen granted them the independence they craved. The Ettlines were willing to take a step back and trust our judgment. It was okay for us to party as long as things didn’t get out of hand. Most of us eagerly embraced that arrangement. If and when we screwed up, the Ettlines gave us another chance. John and Helen cut you plenty of slack, but if you disrespected them or trashed their establishment both were capable of unleashing a fiery temper.

Of Rats and Men

Contrary to popular belief, the Dell did not harbor gangs of juvenile delinquents eager to conceal their wicked deeds from law enforcement. Sorry, Mom - there weren’t any guns, switchblades or brass knuckles - no gangs, career criminals or prostitutes - just a bunch of ordinary teenagers who loved to meet, mix and mingle, dance and have fun.

Fights were few and far between. There was tacit agreement that it was our duty to preserve and protect the unique setting that the Ettlines had created for us. It required us to police ourselves to prevent incidents that would generate negative publicity or hassles with the law. Scuffles were settled quickly, often through John’s bold intervention. The first lesson a guy learned at the Dell was as follows. Don’t let the gray hair fool you. Nobody messes with John. He’s the boss!

A Special Welcome to All Incoming Freshmen!

I was punched in the face three times during my first year of matriculation on the campus of the Shady Dell School of Hard Knocks. Apparently a few of the guys were determined to teach me a lesson. Yet, getting socked in the kisser did not dampen my enthusiasm or scare me away from the place. In fact they had the opposite effect. They whet my appetite for more! As a Dell newbie desperate to break free of mom’s apron strings and earn respect and acceptance, I wasn’t about to let a bloody nose deter me. For the first time in my life I felt like a man instead of a boy and I loved it. Like Secret Agent Man I was living a life of danger. I was addicted to the rush!

Determined to create an image that would allow me to blend in, appeal to the ladies and avoid becoming a frequent target of the tribe's dominant males, I did a lot of posing, posturing and pretending. I decided that it would be advantageous for me to look tough even though I wasn't. Whenever I strolled into the dance hall, I made sure that my hair was messed up, my shirt tail was hanging out, a lit cigarette was dangling from my lips and my game face was on.

One afternoon before anybody else arrived, my best friend and I rolled around on the dance floor of the barn so that we could properly break-in our new Baracuta jackets by getting them coated with Dell dust. This drove my mother crazy. She kept asking me how I got my jacket so badly soiled. She was even more perplexed when I forbade her to get it cleaned. How could I explain to her that I didn’t want to risk weakening my status with the other guys by wearing a clean jacket?

In my mom’s day the ideal guy wore a white sport coat and a pink carnation. His hair was neatly cropped, oiled down and slicked back off his forehead. That look would have spelled social suicide at the Dell in the mid 60s. My goal was to look like I had just been in a fight at reform school, and if I got my uniform dirty or bloodied in combat, it was a GOOD thing.

Helen & John Ettline

Shady Dell Owners

Helen and John: Not Your Typical Mom and Pop

Even by mid 60s standards, John Ettline seemed part of a vanishing breed of men. John never called me by my first name. He always chose to address me as “Mr. Knight." John maintained that friendly formality through all the years I knew him. I’m very glad he did. John always made me feel important when he added the title “Mr.” to my name. Making insecure teenagers feel good about themselves was John’s greatest gift. He always treated young people with dignity and respect and that made them want to return it.

Along with his outstanding people skills, John possessed a photographic memory. He could always match a face with a name. He seemed to know a lot about anything or anybody that you happened to be discussing. John Ettline had a million stories to tell - all of them interesting.

Although old enough to be our grandparents, there was no generation gap between the Ettlines and their teenage guests. They seemed to remember better than other grown-ups what it was like to be young. John and Helen stayed in touch and in tune with the youth culture. Never was that more in evidence than one day at the York Fair in September, 1968. I was sitting in the grandstand awaiting the start of the James Brown concert. I turned around to search the crowd for familiar faces and there, a few rows behind me, sat Helen and John. In a year when racial tension was running high in York and elsewhere, it was remarkable to see a white couple in their 60s at a James Brown concert, chanting along with the rest of us, “Say It Loud: I’m Black and I’m Proud!”

John and Helen were cool. Young people felt at ease talking with them. Unlike many adults, John and Helen listened to us. They cared without preaching or judging. The Ettlines treated their teen visitors like extended family. They believed in the potential of every young person, including troubled youth from broken homes. They spoke to us about the value of an education and honest hard work. They sponsored athletic programs and honored America’s armed forces. They shaped young lives by instilling a sense of pride and self esteem. John and Helen went out of their way to make all of their kids feel like somebody - even those whose families were telling them they were nobody.

The Dell Jukebox: ALL KILLER AND NO FILLER!

Upon arriving on the Dell scene I soon realized that the jukebox in the dance hall was loaded with the greatest, most danceable records to be found anywhere. There were quite a few songs that I had never heard before and would never hear anywhere else. The music mix that played nightly at the Dell was consistently better than what I was hearing on the radio. In the mid 60s the Dell's musical menu was an exciting blend of Motown, Chi-town, New York and Philly soul, Memphis, southern R&B, blue-eyed soul, Brit beat, sunshine pop, garage, psych and folk-rock plus a few do-wop favorites held over from the 50s.

Shady Dell regulars, the gang I now refer to as the Rodentia Intelligentsia, prided themselves on having radar for cool. Year in and year out they discovered and popularized songs that radio stations across the country overlooked. Records that lingered near the bottom of the national chart often became cherished classics at the Dell. Forgotten flips were elevated to mega-hit status by Dell rats unfettered by the limitations of radio play lists.

Certain songs resonated with the Dell crowd to such an extent that they stayed on the jukebox for years. The best example of this phenomenon is the record ranked #1 on my survey of the 200 Greatest Hits Of The Shady Dell. It remained one of the most popular jukebox selections a dozen years after its initial release in the 50s. That very special song, the greatest and longest lasting Shady Dell hit of all time, was "Close Your Eyes" by the Five Keys.

THE FIVE KEYS

"Close Your Eyes" Ranked #1

Del-Chords & Magnificent Men

Another mighty evergreen at the Shady Dell was "Everybody’s Gotta Lose Someday," an intense, power-packed r&b/soul ballad by the Del-Chords, a racially mixed group from York. Released in 1964, the record was still being played heavily two years later, jamming the floor with slow dancers several times a night. Dave Bupp and Buddy King, lead vocalists from the Del-Chords, eventually merged with band members of Harrisburg’s Endells to form a blue-eyed soul group called the Magnificent Men. The “Mag Men,” as we called them, were white guys who had a passion for black music and the vocal talent and musicianship to authentically perform it. Their inspiring ballad "Peace of Mind" was the first in an impressive string of Dell hits for our hometown heroes.

Magnificent Men

HEAVY HITTERS AT THE DELL!

The Emperors of Harrisburg

Records by the Emperors, another home-grown act, were also enormously popular with Dell dancers. A black group from the state capital, the Emperors were exponents of the “Harrisburg sound,” a blend of r&b, soul, garage and Latin influences. "Karate," the Emperors’ best known recording, was the first of eight raw, funky, organ-driven numbers to achieve hit status at the Dell in 1966 and 1967.

THE EMPERORS

DELL ROYALTY - THEY RULED!

End of an Era

Once addicted to the Dell, I pretty much lived there until the fall of 1967 when I left York to attend an institution of higher learning. Over the next four years I visited my Dell family whenever possible during holidays, spring breaks, and summer vacations. My stint as a Dell rat officially ended in 1971 when I found a job in another city and moved away from York for good.

My final visit to the Dell came in March of 1984 when my career took me out of state. My last piece of business before leaving was to drop in at the Dell and say a final goodbye. I entered the house to find John sitting on a stool at the lunch counter reading the newspaper. “Well, hello stranger!” John bellowed, rising to his feet and extending his hand. “Long time no see, Mr. Knight!" After shaking hands with John and exchanging a few pleasantries, I inquired about Helen. I was stunned to learn that she had passed away a few weeks earlier. I never got the news! John and I stood alone in Helen’s snack bar, reminiscing about the good old days and lamenting how much things had changed since the Dell’s golden era.

After a brief chat with John I excused myself and walked down the sidewalk to check out the barn. The old dance hall was dimly lit and nearly vacant. The only customers were two boys with shoulder length hair standing by the jukebox with a couple of girls. No music was playing. The place was dead or, more accurately, in the final lonely stages of life. If it had been twenty years earlier, the joint would have been jumpin’. The four young people eyed me suspiciously. Is this guy a narc? I put myself in their combat boots and realized that the sight of a stranger in his mid thirties was probably making this new generation of Dell rats uncomfortable. I promptly exited the barn and returned to the house to bid farewell to John.

That night marked the last time I ever saw John or entered the Shady Dell. I made one final pilgrimage in 1988 when I returned to Pennsylvania to visit my parents. I drove up to the Dell one afternoon with every intention of going inside. I’m sure I would have encountered a smiling John Ettline and that he would have immediately remembered my name. Yet, I never got out of the car. I chose not to enter because I didn’t want to further contaminate my memories by seeing how much older John looked and how much more dilapidated the Dell had become. All I could do was sit there in the parking lot gazing at the barn, the house, the bench and the steps to the admission booth where the whole journey started. My mind flooded with a thousand memories of the people, the place, and the time of my life.

John Ettline closed the Dell in the fall of 1991. He died at the beginning of 1993. John’s family auctioned off the restaurant equipment, signage and other Dell paraphernalia in the spring of that year.

(Mike Argento's 1993 article in the York Daily Record was used as a reference source for portions of this cover story.)

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